Early Life Disruption May Heighten Brain Disorder Risk

Study Suggests Prenatal Infection and Circadian Disruption Combination Alters Brain Development

A new study led by **Dr. Tara Delorme** at McGill University suggests that adolescents’ internal clocks can be key when considering the risk of developing certain brain disorders. The research examined how a mother’s infection during pregnancy, paired with disrupted sleep patterns, influences brain function.

The Study’s Focus

Scientists investigated how prenatal infections, such as the flu, and adolescent circadian disruption—often caused by irregular sleep patterns—interact to impact brain development. They exposed mice to prenatal infection, circadian disruption, both, or neither. These factors were found to alter memory, anxiety, social behavior, and gene activity in brain areas related to disorders.

Adolescents are vulnerable to circadian disruption, making them more susceptible to the combined effects of prenatal infection & irregular sleep patterns. New research sheds light on these interactions & implications for neurodevelopmental disorders: https://t.co/xxxxxxxxxx #neuroscience #brainhealth

— World Today News (@worldtodaynews) May 22, 2025

“While more research is needed, our findings suggest that people exposed to multiple risk factors may need to be especially mindful of their daily rhythms.”

—Dr. Tara Delorme, Lead Author

Interestingly, the combined effects weren’t always negative, with some instances of biological rhythm disruption lessening the impact of prenatal infection. Approximately 1 in 44 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in the United States (CDC, 2024).

Adolescence and Brain Development

The research concentrated on adolescence because it’s a sensitive time for brain development. **Dr. Nicolas Cermakian**, professor in McGill’s Department of Psychiatry, noted that adolescents’ internal clocks differ from the rest of the population. This, along with screen exposure and artificial light, causes social jet lag.

This misalignment between internal clocks and daily schedules has been linked to various health problems, researchers added. The team, including **Dr. Lalit Srivastava** and **Dr. Patricia Silveira**, is now examining gene changes observed in mice to better understand human brain development.